Kathmandu, March 1

Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) and Nepal APF Club advanced to the semi-finals of the first Ruslan Cup Cricket Tournament here at the Tribhuvan University Stadium today.

TAC defeated Himalayan Cricket Academy by 70 runs, while APF registered a 10-wicket victory over Cannon Cricket Club. In the first quarter-final match, TAC were bowled out for 130 in 20 overs before Himalayan were packed for 60 in 17.2 overs.

Raju Rijal top scored for TAC with 26 off 34 balls, while Sagar Pun and Sompal Kami made 23 runs each and Rajesh Pulami scored 21 runs. Amar Singh Rautela claimed three wickets for Himalayan, while Abinash Bohara, Abinash Adhikari and Ashish Pokhrel grabbed a wicket apiece.

In reply, Himalayan batsmen failed to face star-studded TAC bowling attack and lost wickets at regular interval. Dinesh Agri top scored for Himalayan with 20 off 22 balls, while Abinash Adhikari made run-a-ball 13. Other Himalayan batsmen failed to reach double-figure mark. Sompal Kami and Sagar Pun claimed three wickets each for TAC, while Avinash Karn took two. Bikram Sob and Chandra Saud grabbed a wicket apiece.

In another quarter-final match, APF bowled Cannon out for 37 runs in 12.4 overs and raced to 38 without loss in just 26 balls. Opener Subash Khakurel scored a quick fire 23 not out off 14 balls that included three fours, while Paresh Lohani remained not out on three. Earlier, tail-ender Manoj Yadav top scored for Cannon with 12 runs, while five of their batsmen failed to open their accounts. Shakti Gauchan and Basant Regmi claimed three wickets each for APF, while Aarif Sheikh took two.